Shedding Mystery. Please help me make a decision.

[sidoe]

Hello I am a 28 years of age and have been thinning for quite a while now male pattern baldness runs on both sides of my family.

I started taking finasteride 4 weeks ago and at around the 3rd week I have noticed a huge increase in shedding. After reading these posts I do see that this is normal. However I am a little bit concerned about it since I have also read that shedding should start at the 11-16 week mark after starting the medication.

Should I be concerned? I am wondering if I should discontinue this medication also if these hairs are lost forever? I am willing to stay on this medication if I know for certain there is nothing to be concerned about.

Another thing is that I was on prescribed propecia for about two years straight about 3 years ago and I never noticed a shed like this. Please give me your advice. Thank you

 

[jeffsss]

Hello I am a 28 years of age and have been thinning for quite a while now male pattern baldness runs on both sides of my family.

I started taking finasteride 4 weeks ago and at around the 3rd week I have noticed a huge increase in shedding. After reading these posts I do see that this is normal. However I am a little bit concerned about it since I have also read that shedding should start at the 11-16 week mark after starting the medication.

Should I be concerned? I am wondering if I should discontinue this medication also if these hairs are lost forever? I am willing to stay on this medication if I know for certain there is nothing to be concerned about.

Another thing is that I was on prescribed propecia for about two years straight about 3 years ago and I never noticed a shed like this. Please give me your advice. Thank you

this is exactly why i'm sticking with perscribed propecia.

I never heard of a shed at the 3 week point. I could see 3 months maybe.

I know there are ups and downs of being on this medication. I'd say stick with it. but i'm not a Doctor so you should consult yours.

 

[sidoe]

I am confused and wondering if this could be an adverse reaction to these meds if so how can I tell? I just don't know. Anyone?

 

[jeffsss]

I don't think it's possible to actually lose more hair b/c of finasteride.

consult your Doctor.

 

[Guest]

Shedding can come at different times for different people. The main thing to do is to stick it out. If you do then you have a Johnson of a chance.

 

[sidoe]

I have now been on finasteride for approx a month and a 3 days I am still shedding big time. I'm starting to lose trust/hope, yeah maybe I am overreacting but I remember clearly that when I was on propecia a few years back I never experienced any shedding like this at all.

After looking at almost 80 percent of the posts on this forum I notice that many many many of you guys have not experienced any gain whatsoever.

I just don't get it. Am I jumping the gun? When will this damn shedding stop? If I stop taking finasteride now will my hair grow back?

If anyone can answer these questions I would greatly appreciate it. I just need something to help me regain my trust in these meds. Thanks. Signed DEPRESSED..

 

[Radio]

If I stop taking finasteride now will my hair grow back?

no.

 

[Endo.Crono.Logic]

Dude,

My shed started at 3 weeks. Ride it out. You're going through hormonal fluctuations already.

 

[jfrank]

i'm on month 8 of finasteride. The shed never stoped but slowed down, but up again... I have lost so much hair, that i look bald already.. before finasteride, i was only thinning diffusely..

might quit soon.. i heard something called chronic shedding with propecia use.. maybe i have that..

oh yeah, and i never had an itch until i started Propecia...

 

[GourmetStyleWellness]

I have also read that shedding should start at the 11-16 week mark after starting the medication.

Incorrect information. Shedding starts at different times for everyone, and for some, it never starts.

I am wondering if I should discontinue this medication also if these hairs are lost forever?

Discontinuing medication will not result in any positive outcomes. Transitioning back to brand name Propecia will alleviate any paranoia's you may have, which could be considered a positive thing.

I never heard of a shed at the 3 week point.

Never = in the 3 weeks you've been on these forums? It happens, trust me.

I am confused and wondering if this could be an adverse reaction to these meds if so how can I tell?

No. Propecia does not have "hair loss" listed as an adverse reaction.

I don't think it's possible to actually lose more hair b/c of finasteride.

Its possible to shed, but shed hairs are not "lost" hairs. So technically Propecia can induce temporary hair shedding, but not hair loss by definition.

If I stop taking finasteride now will my hair grow back?

no.

i'm on month 8 of finasteride. The shed never stoped but slowed down, but up again... I have lost so much hair, that i look bald already.. before finasteride, i was only thinning diffusely.. might quit soon..

Very bad idea. At a minimum, you are supposed to give finasteride 12 months of use before deciding it has not worked for you, and even then, you better have some photos to prove that its not your brain screwing with your eyes, because brains do that to hair loss sufferers, big time.

i heard something called chronic shedding with propecia use.. maybe i have that

No such condition. The label right on the Propecia bottle, written years ago, already states that some people may continue to shed up until the 12 month mark. If you still do not see results after 12 months, you are one of the 17% non responders. Simply put, you need to give it 12 months, and if you do, then you're not a responder. But again, you better have some pics to prove yourself right.

i never had an itch until i started Propecia

Thats what Nizoral is for. Without it, you can expect to have close to zero results on Propecia, if you also have itch. But you haven't filled in your regimen box jfrank, so I can't know if you are on Nizoral or not. That's what its there for. Can you fill in that portion of your profile for us?

gourmetstylewellness.com

 

[jfrank]

gourmetstylewellness.com,

please look at my pictures on

http://www.hairlosshelp.com/websites/jfrank/

See that my change in hair isnt all in my head

 

[SE-freak]

I see a change in texture. Cannot really estimate change in density as these pictures are taken in different angle/lighting and have very poor quality.

(why don't you buzz it? length overpronounces your frontal thinning)

 

[jfrank]

well, i have to cut my hair short... beleive it or not, that pciture was taken when my hair was quite long..

btw, my front was thick 7 months ago.... COMPLETEY THICK!!!! and i had no Norwood pattern, but diffuse...

 

[SE-freak]

You went from a __ hairline to V in 7 months?

 

[jfrank]

I meant i only had diffuse on the crown....

My hairline was really thick! The thickest of all my hair..

I always had a little widows peak as far as i know... Probably a NW1 if anything.... it was hardly noticable.... I'll try to find of picture of the windows peak from last year

 

[vidareal]

Thats what Nizoral is for. Without it, you can expect to have close to zero results on Propecia, if you also have itch.
gourmetstylewellness.com

Can someone explain the above to me. I have the shampoo (only started on the big 3 so getting to know about proscar, rogaine) but not really sure what it is for. I always thought it was for when you had an itchy scalp from the other medicines but didnt know it actually promotes hair growth.

Thanks,

 

[JDW]

I think that it helps provide the best possible conditions on the scalp for the other meds to have thebest chance of working.